Ya know, I actually like the guy but when it comes to music and guitar playing he's very set in his ways about things. I just don't want to play music with him anymore. It HAS to be fun. And it wasn't. The other band situation was pretty funny and weird. It was the latest happening and the band split up and went their separate ways. The guitar player called me several times but since I wasn't home he thought my kid was covering for me to blow him off and quit calling. He cannot be reached but by a message phone. He's just too weird to play with without the bass player who won't separate from his buddy the metal drummer. A lot of talent and potential in the situation but inability to work it out. Honestly, nothin new. I'm sure when the time is right the situation will come up and it will be clear and I will do all that I can to keep it going with the right band. In the meantime, I am improving my skills and will have more to bring.

There are a lot of guitar players who have a rigid fixed idea of "their tone." It usually involves distortion from a cranked-wide-open amp, and they won't turn down. They tend to use 50-100W tube amps, and worry that they won't be heard over the drummer. I don't respect 'em musically.

My sound is built on getting preamp tube distortion with the use of a pedal to drive that section. That combined with my 5 watt amp makes me very volume friendly to play with. I'm getting too old to play loud. Drowning out others is just inconsiderate anyhow. As far as rehersing at performance level, how about rehersing at the level that suits the room you are playing in. A long time ago (1978) the guy that lived up the road from me was letting his friends use his guest house for band rehersals. The friend with the band knew I was learning guitar so he showed me thier stuff. It was a small space and volume was an issue. They practiced only with their floor monitors for vocals and used small combo amps. The PA speakers and big amps sat in a pile for when they played out.

Guys, The way I set up small rm large rm.makes no diff,you should be able to talk with each other on stage,I use large amps but for me I get the tones I want a low volume,when someone gets to loud I simply ask them to turn down if this continues I ask them to turn off,But the levels need to stay the same not matter what size venue,when I need to fill a large space I mic everything thu the sound system then I can make it as loud as they want to the aud,without changing stage levels,The loud players I have not respect foe as well,Best thing to do is stay away from those ametures!!

I practice my bass through the big BXR amp I just bought but turned down. I can hear what I need to better through that than my daughter's little practice bass amp. And I don't mind when the music is loud but not too loud when I'm out listening and dancing. We have noticed at one hang out it just keeps getting louder and louder and people all end up outside more than inside. I have seen a lot of stuff like this and it takes away the enjoyment of listening to live music. Sometimes it's the musicians getting a buzz or lack of a sound check. Either way, I don't see it as a good reflection on the band. Maybe I'm just getting old and just burned my poor eardrums all out.

I know this is a blues forum.
I have mentioned this before also.
I saw Ted Nugent last summer at the New York State Fair.
He had a wall of Peavey 5150's as props but played through a single Peavey 60 watt combo that was mic'd. The volume was modest to say the least. If Uncle Ted can play through a 60 watt amp at modest volume for an outdoor concert I think the average blues musician does not need ear bleed volumes to play a club.

[updated:LAST EDITED ON Mar-29-06 AT 02:45 PM (EST)]THANK YOU!!! No Lori its amatter of being an pro,When I preform I want people to enjoy my music if your to loud like you said then people can't really enjoy,I get upset when I see the crowd holdin there ears!! that just stupid,if the sound is not right I can't focus on my show, I have people actually pull there seats within 5 feet of me because they want to see my hands, I like that very much!!

In the old days....(ok Im up there)...we turned the amp up loud because you had to in order to get the power tubes cooking. Thats where you got the great sustain, harmonics, and rock tone we all wanted. Now most amps have a master volume....and there are more stomp box distortion pedals than you can count. There is really no need to get that loud anymore just for "tone" sake. The small digital amps like Vox and Line 6 excel at providing "cranked tones" at low volume.
I went from a 50watt plexi half stack to a 15watt Tweed Deluxe.
I can still get all the sounds with the small amp as I could with the Marshall. Its lighter and not as loud , however the tone is still there.

I had a Marshall JCM900 50 watt head and combo but traded both of them cause they were just too loud. I'm not rich by the way, I bought them used and managed to trade them for even more than I origionally paid for them. One of the few times that has happened.